Heritage Color
Heritage Color, a division of Vivify Specialty Ingredients, manufactures liquid pigment dispersions for agricultural seed coatings, water-based coatings, and printing inks, selling into 50+ countries from US, Indian, and Chinese production.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1981
- HeadquartersGlendale Heights, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Heritage Color does
Heritage Color is a specialty chemical division of Vivify Specialty Ingredients (formerly Aakash Chemicals & Dyestuffs, Inc.) that manufactures and supplies liquid pigment dispersions for three end-markets: agricultural seed coatings and turf colorants, water-based coatings (architectural, wood, industrial, and leather), and printing inks (offset, inkjet, water-based, solvent, and UV). Its product portfolio spans the Akatint surfactant-based in-plant tinting line, the Akasprout EPA 40 CFR 180.920 approved agricultural colorant line, the Akaturf turf dispersion line, and pigment chemistries such as Akafast and Akahue for graphic arts. Underlying production relies on nanomill and blending dispersion technology and proprietary aqueous, low-VOC (<25 g/L), formaldehyde- and APE-free surfactant/additive systems. Products are supplied across more than 50 countries from a multi-country manufacturing footprint (United States, India, and China) supported by a 48,000 sq ft warehouse and in-house laboratories covering coatings, plastics, inks, agriculture, and textile applications.
The business operates as an enterprise B2B motion with direct field sales backed by technical support, color-matching and side-by-side comparison services, and a sample-ordering channel through a company-controlled website that requires account registration. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled transactionally with custom formulation quoting. Customer-facing go-to-market spans trade shows (American Coatings Show, Western Coatings Symposium, CAD RETEC), downloadable brochures, email newsletters, and channel/distribution partners including California Natural Color, Lycored, Phthalo, and SciTech Ingredients. In February 2023 Heritage Color acquired Reitech Corporation (Reading, PA) to expand water-based pigment dispersion capabilities in Coatings and Graphic Arts, reinforcing Vivify's stated focus on consolidated specialty colorants and functional ingredients.
Heritage Color firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Heritage Color
- Legal name
- Vivify
- Website
- https://heritagecolor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1981
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Heritage Color, a division of Vivify Specialty Ingredients, manufactures liquid pigment dispersions for agricultural seed coatings, water-based coatings, and printing inks, selling into 50+ countries from US, Indian, and Chinese production.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Heritage Color industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Specialty Pigment Dispersions
- NAICS
- Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (32513), Synthetic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (325130)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Chemical Products (2890), Industrial Organic Chemicals (2860)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Color Masterbatches & Dispersions (IMAEAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Color Lakes & Pigment Preparations (Aluminum Lakes, Encapsulated Pigments) (AFAJAEAE), Color Blends & Formulation Systems (Standardized Blends, Shade Matching) (AFAJAEAF), Color Stability & Performance Additives (Antioxidants, Chelators, UV/Heat/Acid Stabilizers) (AFAJAEAJ)
Keywords
Where Heritage Color is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Glendale Heights
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Heritage Color business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Liquid Pigment Dispersions Sales: Heritage Color generates revenue through the sale of liquid pigment dispersions and colorants for graphic arts and agricultural seed coatings markets. The company offers a broad product range with high inventory availability, supporting formulation needs with in-house technical expertise and dedicated manufacturing facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B product sales with sample ordering |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Heritage Color product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Heritage Color manufactures and supplies liquid pigment dispersions and colorants for the graphic arts, coatings, and agricultural seed coatings markets. Its portfolio includes the Akatint line of surfactant-based liquid colorants for coatings, the EPA-approved Akasprout seed coating colorants, the Akaturf turf colorants, and pigment chemistries (Akahue and Akafast) for flexographic, offset, screen, and gravure printing inks. The company leverages proprietary nanomill and blending technology and supports customers with in-house laboratories and dedicated manufacturing facilities in the U.S., India, and China.
Product overview
Heritage Color is a vertically integrated manufacturer and supplier of liquid pigment dispersions serving three primary markets: Agricultural (seed coatings and turf colorants), Coatings (architectural, wood, industrial, and leather applications), and Printing Inks (offset, inkjet, water-based, solvent and UV formulations). The product portfolio includes the Akatint line of surfactant-based liquid colorants for coatings; Akasprout E and Akasprout series EPA-approved seed coating colorants for agriculture; and Akaturf turf colorants. The Printing Inks line features pigment chemistries including Phthalocyanine Blues, Rhodamine Reds, Carbazole Violet, and Arylide Yellows for flexographic, offset, screen, and gravure printing. The company also acquired Reitech Corporation in 2023 to expand its water-based pigment dispersion offerings for Coatings and Graphic Arts markets. Heritage operates manufacturing facilities in the US, India, and China with integrated laboratories for coatings, plastics, inks, agriculture, and textile applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Akatint Liquid Colorants Reddest shade Cu-Phthalo blue, red shade Cu-Phthalo blue, green shade Cu-Phthalo blue, Cu-Phthalo green, blue shade Naphthol red, and related variants dispersed into non-ionic surfactants for in-plant tinting systems and water-based coating applications.
- Akasprout and Akasprout E Seed Coating Colorants EPA-approved Phthalo blue, Phthalo green, Dioxazin purple, Monoazo yellow, orange, white, red and pearl colorants designed specifically for agricultural seed coatings, with proprietary specialty polymer binders for improved film formation and reduced dusting.
- Akaturf Turf Colorants Concentrated dispersions and blends including dark green concentrate, grass concentrate, grass green dispersion, green dispersion, green mix, and green paint designed to provide natural green color on dormant, semi-dormant, and non-dormant turfgrass with superior rub and fade properties.
- Akahue Printing Ink Pigments Pigment chemistries including Arylide Yellow, Carbazole Violet, Diarylide Yellow, DNA Orange, Lithol Rubine, Methyl Violet, Naphthol Red, Phthalocyanine Blues and Greens, and Rhodamine Reds for flexographic, offset, screen, and gravure printing ink formulations.
- Akafast High Fastness Printing Ink Pigments High-performance pigment chemistries offering increased fastness properties for graphic arts applications requiring enhanced durability and color stability.
- Reitech Water-Based Pigment Dispersions (Acquired Line) Water-based pigment dispersions and preparations manufactured by Reitech Corporation for the Coatings and Graphic Arts markets, based in Reading, PA. Acquired by Heritage Color in February 2023 to broaden its water-based pigment dispersion portfolio.
Quantifiable outcome
- Long term dispersion stability
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Heritage Color
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Heritage Color technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Heritage Color partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Reitech CorporationcoreEffective February 8, 2023, Heritage Color acquired Reitech Corporation, a manufacturer and supplier of water-based pigment dispersions and preparations for the Coatings and Graphic Arts markets. The acquisition diversifies Vivify's product line and creates a pigment dispersion business with considerable scale.
- VivifycoreHeritage Color is a division of Vivify Specialty Ingredients (formerly Aakash Chemicals & Dyestuffs, Inc.). Vivify is a leading supplier of specialty colorants and functional ingredients serving 800+ customers in 50+ countries with facilities across North America.
- Calico Food IngredientsminorPart of the Vivify group of companies, Calico Food Ingredients addresses application-specific needs with colors, flavors, vitamins, and coatings for the North American marketplace.
- Sandream SpecialtiesminorPart of the Vivify group of companies, Sandream Specialties is a global raw material supplier for the cosmetics industry offering effect pigments and cosmetic actives.
- California Natural ColorminorListed as a distribution partner for Heritage Color products
- LycoredminorListed as a distribution partner for Heritage Color products
- PhthalominorListed as a distribution partner for Heritage Color products
- SciTech IngredientsminorListed as a distribution partner for Heritage Color products
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Heritage Color competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Silberline Manufacturing: Silberline specializes in metallic and special-effect pigment dispersions for coatings, inks, and graphic arts — competing in the same specialty dispersion niche as Heritage's Akahue and Akafast lines.
- Sun Chemical: Sun Chemical (DIC Corporation) is one of the world's largest producers of pigments and pigment dispersions for printing inks, coatings, and specialty applications — directly competing with Heritage's Akatint/Akahue/Akafast lines for graphic arts customers.
- Sensient Industrial Colors: Sensient Industrial Colors manufactures pigment dispersions and specialty colorants serving coatings, inks, agricultural, and industrial markets — overlapping with Heritage across multiple end segments and dispersion chemistries.
- Cathay Industries: Cathay Industries is a global manufacturer of iron oxide and specialty organic/inorganic pigments serving coatings, inks, plastics, and agricultural markets — competing head-on with Heritage in pigment supply for industrial end uses.
- Heubach Group: Heubach (formed via combination of Heubach and Clariant's Pigments business) is a global manufacturer of pigment preparations and dispersions for coatings, inks, plastics, and specialty applications — a direct competitor to Heritage's water-based dispersion portfolio.
Broad incumbents
- Avient Corporation: Avient (formerly PolyOne) provides specialty colorants, dispersions, and masterbatches across consumer packaging, coatings, and industrial applications — a broad-competitor with overlap in liquid dispersions for inks and coatings.
- DIC Corporation: DIC Corporation (parent of Sun Chemical) is a diversified chemicals group with leading positions in printing inks, pigments, and functional coatings — a broader incumbent competing across several of Heritage's end markets.
- Lubrizol Specialty Additives: Lubrizol supplies specialty additives and dispersants used in coatings and inks; while not a direct pigment dispersion competitor, its dispersant chemistry directly intersects with Heritage's proprietary surfactant/additive systems.
- BASF Colors & Effects: BASF's pigments and dispersions business serves coatings, inks, plastics, and agricultural customers globally; as a diversified chemical major it is a broad incumbent rather than a focused specialist competitor of Heritage.
Emerging players
- Trust Chem Co. Trust Chem is a Chinese-based supplier of organic and inorganic pigments and pigment preparations for inks and coatings — emerging as a cost-competitive alternative in the same dispersion chemistries as Heritage.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Heritage Color social profiles
Digital presenceHeritage Color compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Heritage Color financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Heritage Color leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Heritage Color subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Heritage Color funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Heritage Color M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Heritage Color
What does Heritage Color do?
Heritage Color manufactures and supplies liquid pigment dispersions and colorants for the graphic arts, coatings, and agricultural seed coatings markets. Its portfolio includes the Akatint line of surfactant-based liquid colorants for coatings, the EPA-approved Akasprout seed coating colorants, the Akaturf turf colorants, and pigment chemistries (Akahue and Akafast) for flexographic, offset, screen, and gravure printing inks. The company leverages proprietary nanomill and blending technology and supports customers with in-house laboratories and dedicated manufacturing facilities in the U.S., India, and China.
Is Heritage Color a public or private company?
Heritage Color is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Heritage Color founded?
Heritage Color was founded in 1981. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Heritage Color based?
Heritage Color is headquartered in Glendale Heights, United States, in the North America region.
How does Heritage Color make money?
One revenue line is on record: liquid Pigment Dispersions Sales.
Who are Heritage Color's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Silberline Manufacturing, Sun Chemical, Sensient Industrial Colors, Cathay Industries and Heubach Group. Broad incumbents are Avient Corporation, DIC Corporation, Lubrizol Specialty Additives and BASF Colors & Effects. Trust Chem Co. is listed as an emerging player.
Does Heritage Color have an API?
No public API is recorded for Heritage Color.
What industry is Heritage Color in?
Heritage Color's product category is Specialty Pigment Dispersions. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAEAHAK, Color Masterbatches & Dispersions, with a secondary code of AFAJAEAE, Color Lakes & Pigment Preparations (Aluminum Lakes, Encapsulated Pigments). Its NAICS code is 32513 and its SIC code is 2890.